Wedding venue becomes care hotel during COVID-19 pandemic

In a UK first Hilton Nursing Partners, in partnership with West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Kent County Council, and Salomons Estate Hotel, have set up a ‘care hotel’ to free-up much needed NHS beds for those affected by the pandemic.

Creating the concept, the patient discharge and home recovery company, Hilton Nursing Partners approached the partners’ with this innovative solution to maintain uncompromised focus on the recovery of the frail and vulnerable away from high-risk environments.

Hilton Nursing Partners submitted their proposal to West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Kent County Council, which was agreed within four days – throwing protocol to one side, an extremely quick decision for health and social care commissioning.

The safe place of Salomons Hotel, the Victorian mansion in Tonbridge Wells, will be managed and staffed by Hilton Nursing staff to minimise patient infection and maximise recovery during the coronavirus epidemic. 

Ann Taylor, CEO of Hilton Nursing Partners commented: “We are delighted that the NHS and Kent County Council have agreed to our care hotel proposal so quickly. The ethos of Hilton is about getting patients home as soon as possible and supporting their recovery. We recognised that continuing with this model during the current crisis would result in a bottleneck, and risked rationing of care. These are exceptional times requiring exceptional measures, and the care hotel will enable us to maximise the support that we provide, while maintaining patients in a safe environment. While visiting is not possible in the current circumstances, we will use technology to ensure our patients are kept in-touch with family and friends.

“The partnership with Salomons Hotel has been tremendous. From our first, unannounced visit to the site on Friday the 21st they have gone out of their way to make this concept work. It is a tribute to the owner’s sense of community that they have made the site available for the care hotel at cost.”

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